This document discusses how various characters in a film represent social groups through the use of stereotypes. It provides examples for the characters of the psychopathic son, the abusive mother, the kidnapped daughter, and the dedicated policeman. For each character, it lists stereotypical signifiers used like age, gender, appearance, and behaviors to represent these social groups in a way the audience can easily decode and understand the characters. It also notes that the elderly are purposefully not included as characters to avoid confusion and because the film's themes may be unpopular with an older audience.

1. Evaluation question 2Evaluation question 2
How does your media productHow does your media product
represent particular socialrepresent particular social
groups?groups?

2. Why is representation importantWhy is representation important
Representation involves the creators ofRepresentation involves the creators of
the film encoding characters usingthe film encoding characters using
stereotypical signifiers so the audience willstereotypical signifiers so the audience will
understand will be able to decode themunderstand will be able to decode them
and understand the character moreand understand the character more
deeply.deeply.
We have used various signifiers for ourWe have used various signifiers for our
characters which link to many stereotypescharacters which link to many stereotypes
often used in filmoften used in film

3. The Psychopath: Luke and Kevin (we needThe Psychopath: Luke and Kevin (we need
to talk about Kevin)to talk about Kevin)
White – suggests he is upper or middle classWhite – suggests he is upper or middle class
Male – suggests dominance and aggressionMale – suggests dominance and aggression
Late teens – often linked with rebellion and oftenLate teens – often linked with rebellion and often
conflicting with parentsconflicting with parents
Middle class – average, relatable to the mainstreamMiddle class – average, relatable to the mainstream
audienceaudience
Troubled relationship with motherTroubled relationship with mother
Harms sisterHarms sister (kidnapping)(kidnapping)
Evil expression – creates atmosphere of forebodingEvil expression – creates atmosphere of foreboding
Hoodie (connotes suspicion)Hoodie (connotes suspicion)
See character grow from child to adultSee character grow from child to adult
Implied he was originally a healthy child – may beImplied he was originally a healthy child – may be
seen as challenging conventions of a psychopath asseen as challenging conventions of a psychopath as
we show him as a child in a more sympathetic lightwe show him as a child in a more sympathetic light
using signifiers of innocence. So we do not portrayusing signifiers of innocence. So we do not portray
him as a completely evil personhim as a completely evil person
High angle shots used when viewing younger self –High angle shots used when viewing younger self –
suggests powerlessnesssuggests powerlessness
•White
•Male
•Late teens
•Middle class
•Troubled relationship with mother
•Harms sister (murder)
•Evil expression
•Smart clothes (connotes sophistication)
•See character grow from child to adult
•Implied he is born evil

4. The abusive mother: Mother vsThe abusive mother: Mother vs
Margret White (Carrie)Margret White (Carrie)
Long hair – suggests vanityLong hair – suggests vanity
Woman – normally seen as caring and emotional which contrastsWoman – normally seen as caring and emotional which contrasts
with our character’s mean personalitywith our character’s mean personality
In her 40s – an age often associated with bitterness, shown throughIn her 40s – an age often associated with bitterness, shown through
her costumeher costume
Unclear ethnicity – adds to mystery surrounding her characterUnclear ethnicity – adds to mystery surrounding her character
Middle class – seen as normal and relateableMiddle class – seen as normal and relateable
Matronly clothes – cold colours and formal style suggest they areMatronly clothes – cold colours and formal style suggest they are
uptight and obsessed with appearanceuptight and obsessed with appearance
Cold personality – isolation showed through mis en scene as she isCold personality – isolation showed through mis en scene as she is
playing the pianoplaying the piano
Verbal and physical abuseVerbal and physical abuse
Has one son and one daughterHas one son and one daughter
Marries for moneyMarries for money
Abuses sonAbuses son
Face is not shown – makes it harder for audience to connect withFace is not shown – makes it harder for audience to connect with
her as we cannot see her expressionsher as we cannot see her expressions
Finds child shamefulFinds child shameful (since son is product of rape)(since son is product of rape)
Low angle shots to show powerLow angle shots to show power
•Long hair
•woman
•In her 40s
•white
•Matronly clothes
•Cold personality
•Verbal and physical abuse
•Has one daughter
•Religious fanatic
•Finds child shameful (because of supernatural
powers)
•Attempts to kill daughter

5. The kidnapped girl: Evie Vs MeganThe kidnapped girl: Evie Vs Megan
Rose (along came a spider)Rose (along came a spider)
White – makes her appear averageWhite – makes her appear average
Female – often damsels in distressFemale – often damsels in distress
Teens – seen as carefree but sometimesTeens – seen as carefree but sometimes
unaware of dangersunaware of dangers
Middle class – does not have much wealth,Middle class – does not have much wealth,
suggests motive for kidnapping is notsuggests motive for kidnapping is not
moneymoney
Kidnapped out of hatred for the motherKidnapped out of hatred for the mother
Only shown through picturesOnly shown through pictures
Last seen wearing school uniformLast seen wearing school uniform
(connotes innocence)(connotes innocence)
High angle shot of poster connotesHigh angle shot of poster connotes
powerlessnesspowerlessness
Baby photos of her being burnedBaby photos of her being burned
foreshadows trouble for the girlforeshadows trouble for the girl
•White
•Female
•Teens
•Upper class
•Kidnapped for political reasons
•Actively appears in the film
•Wears smart and sweet looking
clothes (connotes innocence)
•High angle shot

6. The dedicated lawman: policemanThe dedicated lawman: policeman
vs Detective Tapp (Saw Franchise)vs Detective Tapp (Saw Franchise)
AfricanAfrican
AmericanAmerican
malemale
Middle classMiddle class
DetectiveDetective
Works onWorks on
murder casesmurder cases
in a crimein a crime
filled areafilled area
Believes firmlyBelieves firmly
in justicein justice
Goes insaneGoes insane
Smart clothesSmart clothes
Is eventuallyIs eventually
killedkilled
•White – seems more
average in a British setting
•Male – typically seen as
protectors, most
policemen stereotypically
male
•Middle class – more
average looking and
relateable to most
audiences
•Policeman
•Works on a kidnapping
case in a pretty quiet
neighbourhood
•Firmly believes in justice
•Police uniform – suggests
authority
•Depicted in a long shot –
seems like more of a side
character with less
significance

7. Groups we did not includeGroups we did not include
The elderly, because we did not want tooThe elderly, because we did not want too
many characters as it would causemany characters as it would cause
confusion, so we wanted to keep it mainlyconfusion, so we wanted to keep it mainly
within one family and the themes exploredwithin one family and the themes explored
in the film may prove unpopular with anin the film may prove unpopular with an
older audience.older audience.